Sara's POV

I looked up at my ceiling as I lay in bed and desperately tried to go into my own world so I could ignore the constant noise emanating from my best friend's mouth. I'd just come back from a 12 hour shift at the hospital and I was in serious need of some sleep... I didn't need to turn up to my friend having let herself in my house trying to beg me to go to our other friend's 25th birthday party. I glared up at my white ceiling, with my red lampshade, and let out a huge sigh as my view of peacefulness is shut out by my friend clambering on the bed and leaning over so she is in my eyeline.

"Sara, please? It's Lily's birthday! We need to go!" She pleaded, already dressed to go out in a pink peplum dress and black heels.

"Zoe, I've just come back from a 12 hour shift in the labour ward. I can barely keep my eyes open. I already said to her I wasn't going to go and you know that!" I whinged and turned away from her. This time I glared between my red curtains, to the midnight sky, the lights in the street.

"Sara! Get up before I drag you!" She had that tone... That one that said 'you're going to do what I say, I'm fed up of pleading and I will force you to do this...'

"Alright!" I shouted, making her jump back, but her face gleamed. "But I don't have an outf-" She threw a dress, cardigan and pair of shoes on the bed. "You already picked out what I'm wearing?" She shrugged and shyly grinned.

"I had a feeling I'd be able to convince you!" She said, cheesily. I rolled my eyes and stood up, dragging my feet as I grabbed the outfit and walked into the bathroom. She'd given me a black leather jacket, red and black dress, my boot heels with laces and buckles, my nude coloured dangly earrings and spiky gold bracelet. I always liked to dress different to everyone else, even if it's only my jacket or shoes. I swiftly got dressed and brushed my teeth, as Zoe kept banging on the door telling to hurry up, then did my makeup;  thick black liquid eyeliner, nude eye-shadow and pink lips. I walked out of the bathroom, throwing my uniform on my bed and sighed heavily.

"Do I really actually have to go out?" I asked.

"Yes!" She said, sitting me down at my dresser. She began to do my hair, which was already wavy from having it in a bun all day. She plaited two bits down the side and pulled them to the back of my head, joining them together. "There! Now, are you ready?"

"I've had five minutes of course I don't feel ready!" I rolled my eyes.

"Hurry up and do your bag!" She pestered. I pulled my backpack off the floor, took out my purse, phone, keys and lipstick and put them in my small purse.

"Alright! I'm done!" I rolled my eyes one last time as she grabbed my hand and dragged me out the front door. I locked it, threw the keys back in my bag and prayed to God in my mind that I would manage this night without dying, sleeping or injuring myself.

***

The taxi pulled up at the club and I saw the line of people waiting to get in lasting the entire road. I'm not in the mood for this. I want to sleep.

"That's £8.50." The taxi driver smiled.

"£8.50? You have to be kidding me!" Zoe exclaimed. "This trip was £6 last time I did it!" She threw a ten pound note at the man. "I expect change!" She said and he huffed as he pulled out the change for her. We got out of the taxi and ran across the road to reach the door of the club.

"You have to go to the back of the line, unless you have a booking." The bouncer scowled. His voice scared me, his being scared me. I wouldn't want to screw him over; he looks like he could tear me in two with his little finger if I looked at him the wrong way!

"We have got a booking actually." Zoe said, forcefully. "It's a 25th birthday party for Lily." The bouncer looked at the list on his clipboard.

"Alright, come in. Welcome! If you tell the guy at the door he'll direct you to your booth." He smiled. I could hear the groans and murmurs of the people waiting in line. We walked up to the door and the music could already be heard. Another guy opened the door and we walked inside.

"Hello and welcome. Just the two of you today?" A lady smiled at us from behind a desk.

"We're with a party of people, I think they're already inside!" I smiled back.

"Are you in Lily's 25th group?" She typed on her computer.

"Yeah!" I said back.

"You get 25% off your drinks for the first hour, just show this stamp on your hand when you go to the bar." She grinned as she got the stamp out and stamped both of our hands. "You are the first booth on the right after the dance floor! Have a great night!"

"Thank you!" Zoe and I said in unison. We walked into the club, immediately receiving glares from everyone in there. Some guys winked, others looked us up and down, girls just stare as you walk past. It happens every time we go into a club. We're not models but we're alright looking, Zoe and I, we're that line between normal and pretty. We pushed through everyone dancing on the dance floor and finally reached our booth, full of people I didn't know.

"Oh My God! Sara you came!" Lily screamed and ran over to me, as well as she could in heels that were about a foot high. She grabbed me and pulled me in to a hug. "I thought you were at work today?"

"I was!" I said, glaring over to Zoe, already comfortably seated.

"She force you?" Lily laughed.

"You know what she's like!" I laughed too. "I mean I was contemplating it all the way home, I didn't want to miss it for the world but I was practically asleep on the train home!"

"Well I am so grateful!" She smiled sympathetically and hugged me again. "Come on, let's get some drinks in!" She winked.

"I'll get the round, it's your birthday after all!" I smiled.

"You mean cos it's 25% off..." She smirked.

"No! I mean- I..." She caught me out... Again!

"It's alright! I know that's not the reason!" She laughed.

"You look lovely today!" I smiled at her. She was always dressing to perfection whether we were going clubbing or going to the park. She wore a knee length, skin tight black dress styled with a thick, red belt and red shoes.

"Aww thank you! So do you, especially bearing in mind you were up at 5am!" She smiled. The barman appeared seconds later and we ordered our drinks, showing the stamps on our hands. The drinks arrived in no time and we walked back to the table.

"Right, guys and girls I'd like you to meet my best pals from school!" Lily said to everyone at the table, "This is Sara and that there Zoe!" She introduced us to a table full of strangers who smiled, waved or said 'hi'. We all sat down at the table and I took a long-needed sip of my drink but I suddenly felt like this club was against me as it played the song Zoe, Lily and I had called 'Our Song' for years... 'Hey Baby (Drop It To The Floor) by Pitbull ft T-Pain. The intro began and the other two screamed, immediately standing up and pulling me onto the dance floor. I faked a smile, but once I was up there, dancing with them, I felt fine and continued dancing and singing along.

"I need the loo!"  Zoe admitted half way through the song and I nodded, the two of them leaving me to dance on my own. We always went to the toilet in twos, and by nodding I voluntarily said I'd stay on the dance floor, well I was planning to sit back down and rest! I twisted on the spot to walk towards the table but instead came face to face -well body to face - with a man. In front of me stood a 'try-hard'. A boy, no older than me, dressed head to toe in clothes you'd see in a shop window. It was embarrassing.

"Hey babe." He began. "What's your name?"

"None of your business." I said as politely as I could and tried to walk past him, but he stepped the same way as me.

"I said what is your name?" he said more forcefully. I don't have time for this!

"And I said none of your business!" I stepped the other way, but so did he.

"You may as well just tell me your name, or you're gonna be here a long time..." He threatened.

"Sara. My name is Sara." I shouted at him. "Happy now? Can I get past?" I stepped to the side, but he stepped along with me. I rolled my eyes.

"Are you here with anyone, Sara?" He asked me, here come the chat up lines.

"What does it matter to you? You haven't got a chance!" I laughed, ready to push past him, but he stepped forward and squared up to me.

"Haven't I?" He said, wrapping his arms round me and squeezing my bum. "I think I have..." I prayed as I did as I left my house. Please let me be safe and get home ok... Please don't let me get-

"Sara!" A man's voice called over to me, drawing me from my inner prayer. A man, slightly older than me, walked towards me looking annoyed. Who the hell was he? He was hot though... He had brown hair, stubble, dark brown eyes and he was over 6ft tall. Not to mention he was toned; not like body builder muscly but you could tell he went to the gym. "Sara, what the fuck?" I looked at him in confusion. He must have me confused with someone else... "Sara, what the hell are you doing with this guy?" The guy instantly let go of me and took a few steps back.

"I-Is she with you?" The try-hard stuttered. "She never told me!"

"I never had the chance!" I interrupted.

"Yeah, of course! Why the hell would I be over here otherwise?" This guy squared up to the try-hard. "Why don't you run back to your playschool friends and come over here when you're old enough, eh?"

"I'm sorry!" The try-hard ran off. The guy turned round to me and smiled.

"Hey, you alright? I could tell he was giving you trouble!" He looked so sweet as he smiled politely to me.

"Yeah I'm fine thank you, well I am now!" I said, relieved. "I thought he was gonna hit me or something!" I laughed nervously. "How did you know my n-"

"I heard you shout it to him..." He shrugged. "Did you want to go and get a drink?"

"Yeah, that'd be nice thanks! That guy is still glaring at me..." I raised my eyebrows as we walked off to the bar.

"My name is Eddie." He clinked his glass against mine. "Nice to meet you!"